VF-101 Grim Reapers F-14 Tail

Capture the legendary Naval Aviation markings on this 20 inch wood replica of an F-14 tail flown by the VF-101 Grim Reapers.

• Length – 20 inches
• Made from Mahogany
• US Veteran Owned Business
• The product is not intended to be used by children 12 years and younger.

The original 1942 Grim Reapers aboard the USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6)

1940’s VF-10 Grim Reapers

VF-10 Hellcats returning to the USS Enterprise in 1944

The original Grim Reapers were activated on June 3, 1942 as VF-10 at NAS San Diego flying the F4F Wildcat. The first commanding officer was James H. Flatley, who had just served in the Battle of the Coral Sea.  The Grim Reapers deployed aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) to the Southern Pacific in 1942 where they participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal.  After their return to the U.S. and NAS Sand Point they transitioned to the F6F-3 Hellcat and once again deployed to the South Pacific aboard the Enterprise. During their second combat tour, VF-10 participated in operations in the Marshall Islands, Jaluit, Emirau, the Western Caroline Islands, Hollandia, Truk Lagoon and the Battle of the Philippine Sea (a.k.a the Marianas Turkey Shoot).  The squadron then returned to the States, and transitioned to the F4U Corsair at NAS Atlantic City.  VF-101 returned to the Pacific and took part in strikes against Ryukyu Islands, Kyūshū, Okinawa and the Wake Island. Finally, VF-10 returned to NAS Alameda where it was deactivated in November 1945.

1950s VF-101

An F3D-2 of VF-101 at NAS Key West in 1958.

On May 1, 1952, VF-101 was commissioned at NAS Cecil Field, Florida.  This new squadron assumed the nickname and traditions of VF-10 and flew the FG1-D Corsair in the Korean War.  Later in 1952 VF-101 received the jet-powered F2H-1 Banshee and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea.  In 1956 they transitioned to the F4D-1 Skyray, their first radar equipped aircraft. In April 1958, VF-101 was merged with the Fleet All Weather Training Unit Atlantic and began to train all weather fighter pilots on both the F4D-1 and the F3H-2 Demon.  In becoming part of the training structure, VF-101 became part of Readiness Attack Carrier Air Wing 4 and ceased to be a deployable unit.

1960s

An F-4B Phantom II

In June 1960, VF-101 established “Detachment A” at NAS Oceana which operated the F4H-1 and later the F-4 Phantom. By 1963, Det A was phased out, and VF-101 was solely operating the F-4 Phantom at NAS Key West. IN May 1966, a new detachment was formed at NAS Oceana to train F-4 Pilots and Radar Intercept Officers (RIOs) in aerial refueling, carrier qualification, and conventional weapons while the Key West unit concentrated on air to air comabt, radar intercepts, and missile firing.

1970s

VF-101’s administrative command, Readiness Attack Carrier Air Wing 4, was disestablished on June 1, 1970, with VF-101 shifting its command and control relationship to Fleet Air Key West.  This move lasted only a year, and the Grim Reapers moved from NAS Key West to NAS Oceana under the command of Fighter Wing One.  A detachment remained at Key West until the 2000s.
In January 1976, VF-101 began operating and instructing aircrews and maintainers in the F-14 Tomcat.  The first two Oceana F-4 squadrons, to transition to the F-14 at VF-101 began in June 1976 . In 1975 and 1976 the Grim Reapers were awarded the CNO Aviation Safety Award and in November 1976 the unit received its fourth Safety Citation for 36 continuous months without accident.
On August 5, 1977, the F-4 training department of VF-101 was split into a separate new squadron which continued to train F-4 crews until its disestablishment in 1984.

1980s

An F-14 from the former VF-101

In 1986, VF-101 had completed 3 years of accident free operations earning them another Safety Citation, and in March 1988 they received a third CNO